Before I Became a Mom to a Medically Complex Child

Before I became the mom to a medically complex child, I didn’t know I would have to fight with medical professionals just to have my concerns acknowledged.

I didn’t know we would spend as much time in hospitals as we do out of them.

I didn’t know what it felt like to be told my child has a severe birth defect and would need surgery.

I didn’t know I would experience the gut-wrenching pain of having to leave my baby at the hospital because I was discharged and he was in the NICU.

I didn’t know there would be a time where I would be on the phone with 911 begging for them to just hurry and get here while sobbing and praying to God for my baby to breathe.

I didn’t know fear like I do now. I didn’t know worry like I now. I didn’t know strength like I do now.

I also had no idea the kind of resilience and perseverance that kids fighting medical battles posses.

I’ve always followed pages on social media of kids with medical needs, but I didn’t know I’d one day be the one posting about my own child’s journey on his support page.

Before we started this journey, I didn’t know a lot of the things that come with parenting a medically complex child.

Now, I feel like life has a new meaning. I was given this brave little boy for a reason. He’s taught me so many things. To be strong when you don’t feel like you have any strength left. To appreciate everything in life, even the littlest things. To be more patient. To be more understanding.

He taught me that everyone you meet is fighting a battle, no matter how big or how small it may seem to you, so it’s best to always be kind. Before I became a mom to a medically complex child these were things I hardly gave a second thought.

My motherhood journey changed when I had him, but so did my views on life.